Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Ask and give advice here
User avatar
fourier
Oil Cooler
Posts: 342
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:21 pm
What model do you have?: '59 Ghia, '77 Beetle
Location: Melkbosstrand, Cape Town
Has thanked: 31 times
Been thanked: 37 times
South Africa

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by fourier »

retrovan wrote: Fri May 31, 2019 2:59 pm If I had 3 cents to rub together, I would still bet it is oval drums.

To have 3 cars by the same owner, with the same brake guy, have the same problem, points to drums, not bent shafts.

This is possible but never heard of someone having that problem.

Good luck with your investigation.......

Herman
I also think it unlikely that all three your cars have bent axles, and rather suspect distorted or poorly skimmed drums.

Try to trouble shoot...
Lift the rear wheels off the ground. Adjust the brake shoes until they just contact the drum. Turn each drum through a full revolution. If you find a drum that has constant resistance for the full revolution, that drum is probably running true. Now swap the true running drum to another axle, and check again as above. If resistance remains constant, the axle is not bent.

I recently had a well known brake company in Cape Town, skim my Karmann Ghia rear drums. Long story short... drums ended up 0.8mm out of true, and by the time the problem was corrected, the drums were over sized, and turned into paper weights... Not every brake shop can skim these drums properly.


(o= i =o) (o\ ! /o)
german
Oil Stain
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 7:59 pm
What model do you have?: none yet
Location: free state
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by german »

Does the drum have play and fit or have the right spicket on the shaft?
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by John Alves »

The pulsating has reduced quite a bit since skimming, but not 100%,I will investigate this weekend and report
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
Terry Phillips
Fuel Injection
Posts: 2005
Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:56 pm
What model do you have?: T3,1beetle
Location: Kempton Park
Has thanked: 193 times
Been thanked: 121 times
Zambia

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by Terry Phillips »

The drums might have a high spot that the drum skimmer wont get out and must be ground down with a pencil grinder and check the ovality of the drums.My 2c worth.
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by John Alves »

Do I remove the dust covers from these wheel bearings? I can't see how gearbox oil can circulate freely to the bearing surfaces
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
User avatar
retrovan
Donor
Donor
Posts: 8709
Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:51 pm
What model do you have?: 52T1,68FB,72Bay,75FL
Location: Eich! no, in Jefferys Bay
Has thanked: 421 times
Been thanked: 539 times
Contact:
Netherlands

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by retrovan »

I normally remove only the one cover being the inside Gearbox facing one.

Herman
1952 Split Beetle 1835cc
1968 Fastback 2Lt.type4
1972 Low Light Bay Panel Van 2Lt type 4
1975 Fleetline Panel Van 1914cc
2020 MeFusco Beetle Truck 2Lt type 4
1972 FT Hahn SP 1776 cc
User avatar
John Alves
Crankshaft
Posts: 791
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 48 times
South Africa

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by John Alves »

will do
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.

1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
keithm18@gmail.com
Oil Leak
Posts: 84
Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2020 4:44 am
What model do you have?: Beach Buggy
Location: benoni
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 3 times
South Africa

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by keithm18@gmail.com »

Hi John and all.

I just bought Timken bearings for the rear that look like the attached.

John did you remove one or both of the dust caps and what's the consensus result here?

Thanks guys. Everyday I learn how much I have to learn on this buggy. You gage have forgotten what I still have to learn.. Image

Sent from my STK-L21 using Tapatalk

73type2
Pushrod
Posts: 987
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:37 am
What model do you have?: '73 T2 Single Cab
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 141 times
Been thanked: 100 times
France

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by 73type2 »

Remove the cover facing the gearbox, as suggested above. That way the bearing will keep on being lubricated via the axle tube. The other cover will help the rear hub oil seal in keeping oil from leaking through to the drums.
User avatar
Tony Z
Donor
Donor
Posts: 14992
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 8:33 am
What model do you have?: 2.3L 69; 1302; P/Van
Location: Klipheuwel (near Durbanville), Cape Town or working at sea
Has thanked: 191 times
Been thanked: 487 times
South Africa

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by Tony Z »

73type2 wrote: Tue Oct 20, 2020 10:25 pm The other cover will help the rear hub oil seal in keeping oil from leaking through to the drums.
why would you need a secondary means of sealing the axle? If properly installed, the seals should keep the leaks at bay.
73type2
Pushrod
Posts: 987
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:37 am
What model do you have?: '73 T2 Single Cab
Location: Cape Town
Has thanked: 141 times
Been thanked: 100 times
France

Re: Bent drive shafts, is this normal?

Post by 73type2 »

You're right, but it wouldn't hurt.
Post Reply